Crown Elite basketball championship dunks off in Lagos
...As teams target N 4 million jackpot
Indoor Sports hall of National Stadium, Surulere Lagos came alive Tuesday when the second edition of the annual Crown Elite basketball championship dunked off with eight teams participating.
The five day championship which will end on February, 5 is featuring Nigeria’s most decorated teams for a chance to win cash prizes, awards and an opportunity to participate in an international basketball championship in the United States.
The eight teams championship is divided into two groups with Group A having last year’s defending champion, Ebun Comets of Lagos, NBBF Premier League first runners-up Kwara Falcons, Lagos Highlanders and 2022 NUGA Games host University of Lagos basketball team while Group B comprises of NBBF Premier League champions, Rivers Hopers , Last year’s crown elite first runners-up Dodan Warriors of Lagos and Raptors Basketball Club
According to the President of Crown Elite Sports, organizers of the championship, Hanson Oguche, this year’s edition promises to be more engaging, energizing and entertaining with fun filled spectators event that includes dunk and shooting event, live entertainment and other side attractions.
“We’re organizing this event in order to give our basketball players opportunity to express themselves and be in competitive mood and we’re encouraged by the successes recorded in the first edition. The players are going to gain a lot from the tournament because apart from the prize money at stake, overall winners of the championship will have an opportunity to take part in an international basketball tournament later in the year in the United States”, he explained.
He also announced that the champion of the five day event will go home with N1.5 million while the first and second runners- up will be N 1 million and N 500,000 richer.
Founded in Abuja in 2009, Crown Elite Sports is a Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) affiliated and Nigerian University Games (NUGA) endorsed sports Management Company that works to maximize the potential of talented youth athletes and professional players through sporting championships, player development programs and educational counseling.
Meanwhile, in some of the matches played yesterday, Kwara Falcons who were trailing in the first and second quarters rallied round in the third and final quarter to beat Ebum Comets by 48 baskets to 45 while Raptors defeated Dodan Warriors by 64 t0 59.
In another match, Lagos Islanders defeated UniLag 60-55 while last year’s runners-up Lagos Legends beat defending champion Rivers Hoopers 62-57 in a thrilling encounter that was full of suspence with fans enjoying every moment of the game.
